Phillip’s Trumpet Tale in Kosova
Swiss trumpet player came to Kosova to play trumpet. Then he found love for the country and is now at the center of local music landscape, from jazz sessions to the new Prishtina Soul Kitchen.
Kosova’s music scene is strange. In many respects, Kosovar music influence is disproportionately bigger than the size of the country, thanks to two Prishtina girls who are omnipresent in global scene: Dua Lipa and Rita Ora. The grit these music stars is rooted in the resilience of their own native country, as they never fail to mention in the global media. North Macedonian Albanians have their own Grammy and MTV Awards winning star Bebe Rexha (probably the only Albanian woman to have ever become a real American country music star on top of everything else she does) while Albania ‘gave’ its’ own contribution to the Billboard charts: pop dance star Ava Max.
In Kosova itself, big pop and rap stars like Ylli Limani, Dafina Zeqiri or Ledri Vula have amassed millions of fans across the Albanian speaking space (and the respective social media). It’s fair to say that local Kosovar musicians and event managers (UNUM festival anyone?) dominate the music scene in all Albanian speaking lands, courtesy of a real mixture of historic experiences, urban scene and some fantastic talent out there.
Underground scene was also explosive in Kosova for decades. New wave bands like Prishtina’s Gjurmët in 1980s launched not a wave, but a tsunami of musical experimentation and cultural rebellion, blending rock, new wave, and Albanian lyrical expression to create a movement that still echoes in the region’s music scene today. In 1990’s the scene became really underground, with rock and rap becoming expression of resistance to the Milosevic apartheid regime, which closed all venues and cultural institutions for Albanians.
After the war, electronic music exploded and big DJ’s from around the world were intrigued enough to add Kosova and legendary clubs such a Megahertz, Eelvibe and Spray to their itinerary, while rap bands like N’R created a completely new language, revolutionizing completely the local hip-hop scene by blending Prishtina street lingo (always gheg), social commentary, and global influences into a raw, unapologetic sound that resonated with a new post-war generation.
But last few years things have gone bit… stale? Lot of rap and hip-hop became enmeshed with turbo-folk sounds powered up by autotune software and now they all sound the same. Jazz never became ‘big’ despite few good jazz festivals in Mitrovica and Prishtina, while soul and funk was limited to parties in cafes and smaller venues. But the country is in constant movement, very young, and very open to the world. A spark is sometimes needed to shake things up.
In enters Phillip Konrad Labhart, a Swiss trumpet-player who is a bit coy of the actual reason why he’s here (love? flija? we don’t know) but since he’s come here, he started not only playing and recording his own music with a select group of local and diaspora folks, but also building structures and events that expand the horizon of Kosovar music experience.
He joined the Jazz Cats sessions launched by master Visar Kuçi in Defy Them cultural center and now he has launched Prishtina Soul Kitchen. His concept is of a “beautiful live band on one side, one of the city’s best DJs on the other, and in between – pure groove. Each event will also feature standout female vocalists performing their own original tracks, making every night special sounds of soul, funk, and hip hop in the city.” Phillip continues managing his Swiss-based label Hinterhouse Records based in the Swiss canton of Thurgau, but has also established a non-profit organization Better Together Movement in Prishtina, focusing especially on promoting women musicians in our country.
Soooo, we had to do a TenTen with Phillip. We’re great pals over social media, but his story and his musical story-telling deserves a shout out. We discussed from his hyper-activity in Prishtina, to his choice between raclette or speca me xhizë, to Herman Hesse’s impossibility to finding home with trivialities….
1. Hey Phillip, what's your story? A Swiss musician, but helping Prishtina's musical landscape... How, why, where?
You can imagine that I have often been asked these questions in the last two years, since I have been living my life mainly in Kosova. And I also think it's a very legitimate question. I usually answer it with: Let's have a raki (or several) and I'll tell you about my story and my paths that led me to Kosova. I think that should also apply to us - we should meet for a raki soon. Until then, let me tell you that I am happy and content in Kosova and I have the opportunity to pursue many meaningful activities.
2. You're organizing several different sessions, events, in different clubs. What are the events you're promoting?
As I have a lot of knowledge from the event and music business in addition to my educational background, it was actually more a chain of acquaintances and circumstances that I am currently involved in several different projects and event series. Although my main work, which I am pursuing here, is my book project, I am grateful for these cultural activities. Therefore, I am very happy to be part of the Prishtina Jazz Catz series at Defy Them and now the Prishtina Soul Kitchen series. But it's also great to be part of the Liburn Jupolli Ensemble or Art Lokaj & The New Management as a musician. Of course, the cultural activities also have to do with my research work for my new Kosovan NGO Better Together (BTTR TRTHR) - but more on that later.
3. What would you rather have: Swiss raclette and potato or Albanian xhizë me speca?
I love Albanian food - it's one of the reasons why I feel so comfortable here.
But I grew up where I grew up - I love raclette and eat it every time I'm in Switzerland (thanks to my mom).
4. Famous Swiss writer Herman Hesse says “Whoever wants music instead of noise, joy instead of pleasure, soul instead of gold, creative work instead of business, passion instead of foolery, finds no home in this trivial world of ours.” Can you find home in Prishtina's trivialities?
I like Hesse and I like your question. It also implies the question of what I call “home” at all. On the one hand, “home” is a place where I feel safe and where I can develop - in this respect, I definitely feel at home here in Kosova, and Prishtina. And when it comes to trivialities, I maintain that this is always a matter of perspective. In Prishtina there is a lot of potential for me to be active, to work and to be part of movements - all three aspects are crucial elements for me if I can perceive my life as meaningful. And as Hanna Arendt said: without contrasts, certain values would not even exist in our human existence. YES - I feel home in Prishtina’s trivialities.
5. If you could choose three musicians, dead or alive, to play in a band with, who would these be, and where would you play?
Questlove on the drums, Enver Muhamedi on the bass and Jon Batiste on the piano. The place would be so important - maybe a lil jazz club like Hemming Way in Tirana.
6. If you have a magic stick to bring one Swiss a custom, or a habit, or a tradition or a policy to Kosova, what would that be?
Oh - part of me doesn't like talking about stereotypes of whole peoples at all. I see (and this probably has a lot to do with my privileged background) mainly people and less masses.
I prefer the person on the street to the people described in the media. Especially since I have spent most of my time living in Kosova, I have realized how little I actually know about the “Swiss”.
But of course, if I could wave a magic wand and conjure up the positive aspects of the Swiss healthcare and education systems in Kosova tomorrow, I wouldn't hesitate for a second.
7. Is there a book, movie or piece of art that has influenced your music?
Yes - actually all movies from Spike Lee (like Do the right thing) and Jim Jarmush (like Peterson or The Way of The Samurai). For me, music was and always is connected to images and emotions.
8. Switzerland is big in the Eurovision Song Contest which is approaching soon. Kosova is not there yet, but if we could participate, who would be a perfect participant from Kosova?
I have an opinion on many topics in this world - and these change from time to time. This is also the case with my opinion on the Eurovision Song Contest.
I was a child when Celine Dion won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland - that was quite something. Today I have very little interest in the whole event, even if I am happy for the Swiss winner Nemo - I think he and his team really like it (and probably many other Swiss people too).
So I don't know how to answer the question now... but I was there on the first day of last year's event at Pallati i Rinise dhe Sporteve and the whole event was really well organized. So I think it's high time that the winner of the Kosova event should be part of the European contest.
9. If Prishtina had a soundtrack, what three songs would be on it?
Art Lokaj & The New Management - Crazy About Amy
10. You're about to launch something fresh and soulful. Give us the details!
Yes, something new is on the horizon – and it’s exactly the kind of project I love: an initiative that can be a win on multiple levels. On one hand, "The Prishtina Soul Kitchen" fulfills my desire for more Soul, Funk, and Hip-Hop music in Prishtina. On the other hand, this event series gives me the opportunity to collaborate with young, talented musicians. Moreover, through this project, we can actively support female singers and their original songs.
And last but not least, it’s another initiative that brings people and organizations together – creating the potential for shared, magical moments.
